A former Cumberland County corrections officer has been found guilty of manslaughter for the death of a 9-year-old girl.
According to the Portland Press Herald, the verdict was reached in court on Thursday.
64-year-old Kenneth Morang fell asleep at the wheel after two consecutive 16-hour shifts in July of 2019 and rear-ended an SUV. Raelynn Bell, who was in the SUV, died days later from brain injuries.
Prosecutors say Morang was criminally responsible for the death because he got behind the wheel despite knowing he was too tired to drive safely.
His defense argued that the state didn’t have evidence to prove Morang was aware that he was in no state to drive a vehicle.
Morang will remain free on no-cash bail conditions until he reports to state prison at a later date.
He faces up to 25 years behind bars. His sentencing date has not been set.
